Days of Our Lives is about to explode with one of its most shocking comebacks in years. Just when fans thought Salem had finally found

peace, the past storms back with a vengeance. In a jaw-dropping twist that no one saw coming, Owen Kent — the deranged kidnapper who

tormented Stephanie — has returned, sending shockwaves through the entire town. And Stephanie’s reaction? Pure terror.

 

 

Tonight’s episode begins innocently enough. Stephanie Johnson is seen trying to rebuild her life after weeks of emotional turmoil. She’s been focusing on work, leaning on family, and doing everything possible to push past the scars of what happened before. But trauma has a way of lingering in the shadows, waiting for the worst possible moment to resurface.

 

 

And tonight, it does.

As Stephanie heads to an evening meeting at The Spectator, she opens the office door, expecting to greet her editor. Instead, the lights flicker. A silhouette appears behind her. She freezes. The air turns razor-sharp. And when the figure steps forward into the dim glow of the desk lamp, Stephanie’s breath leaves her body.

 

 

Owen Kent. Alive. Smirking. Standing right in front of her.

The man who once kidnapped her, terrorized her, and nearly destroyed her life has returned — and he looks even more dangerous than before.

The writers waste no time plunging viewers into Stephanie’s panic. Her hands tremble. Her voice is barely above a whisper. Memories of her abduction hit her like a tidal wave: the confinement, the fear, the helplessness. She can’t move. Can’t breathe. She is face-to-face with the nightmare she fought so hard to escape.

Yet Owen seems to relish her fear.

“You didn’t really think I was gone forever, did you?” he says casually, as though greeting an old friend. It’s the kind of calm, eerie confidence that sets the stage for something far more sinister.

The scene immediately shifts to show how his return impacts the entire canvas of Salem. News spreads fast. Chad, Everett, Steve, and Kayla are all pulled into the crisis as Stephanie tries to hold herself together long enough to explain what happened.

When Steve “Patch” Johnson learns Owen is back, his reaction is explosive. His protective instincts kick in instantly, and he vows that Owen will never get near his daughter again. But Steve also knows something deeper — Owen’s return can’t be random. This was planned.

Meanwhile, Chad DiMera, who already carries guilt over not protecting Stephanie in the past, becomes overwhelmed with rage. He blames himself, the DiMeras, and the system that allowed Owen to disappear instead of being permanently handled. Everett, too, feels the weight of the moment, fearing that this could spiral Stephanie into emotional collapse just when she seemed ready to move forward.

But what does Owen want?

That’s the question haunting Salem. And tonight, we get our first clue.

When Owen slips away before the police arrive, he leaves behind a chilling message: a photograph of Stephanie taken yesterday — a reminder that he has been watching her long before revealing himself. Stephanie realizes she was never as safe as she thought. Owen has been tracking her movements, studying her routine, waiting for the perfect moment to strike again.

The horror deepens when Kayla discovers something terrifying in the hospital records: Owen’s name has appeared on visitor logs under an alias. He wasn’t just stalking Stephanie. He was inside the building, close to the Johnson family, without anyone knowing.

The episode ends with a chilling cliffhanger that sets up an explosive week ahead. As Stephanie tries to sleep, believing the house is secured, the camera pans outside to show Owen standing across the street — calm, patient, and smiling. Not only is he back, he’s confident. He thinks he has the upper hand. And he’s not finished.

But Salem is no stranger to fighting monsters. And if Owen wants a war, he may find himself outnumbered.

Steve is ready for battle. Chad is ready for revenge. Everett is ready to protect. And Stephanie — shaken but strong — vows that this time, Owen won’t break her.

Still, one thing is clear:

Owen Kent’s return is the beginning of a terrifying new chapter. And Stephanie’s life will never be the same again.